China willing to continue talks with Dalai Lama

Dharamsala, May 8: The Dalai Lama's envoy Lodi Gyari said here today that Chinese negotiators were willing to continue talks with the Tibetan side.

Lodi Gyari who had met the Chinese officials earlier this week in Beijing said that there were 'strong and divergent views' on the nature as well as the causes of the recent tragic events in Tibet. He said that during the talks concrete proposals were exchanged, which could be a part of the future agenda. China alleged during the talks that the Dalai Lama had instigated the disturbances in Tibet and protests elsewhere during the sojurn of the Olympic torch. Gyari said that the Tibetan side had categorically rejected the Chinese accusations.

The team of two Tibetan envoys had argued that events in Tibet were "a clear symptom of deeply felt grievances and resentment of the Tibetans" towards Chinese government policies going back decades.

Dalai Lama's envoy said that the next round of talks should not be delayed and indicated hat the dates for the meeting would be announced after discussions with his counterparts.

"The task at hand is to address the legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people in a realistic and constructive way," Gyari said.

"Despite major differences on important issues, both sides expressed willingness to addressing the issues at hand," he said.

He said the Tibetan side had appealed for an end to "the current repression" throughout Tibet, the release of prisoners and proper medical treatment for those injured in the recent unrest.

Gyari also called for an end to China's "patriotic re-education" campaign, which he said was deeply resented by the Tibetan people.